Breed Distribution in New Zealand. 37 



Zealand may appear. There are, of course, other influ- 

 ences in breed distribution, such as quality and face 

 appearance of land, but rainfall is always a dominating 

 factor. In the table the two Leicesters are taken collec- 

 tively, as also the two Downs breeds Southdown and 

 Shropshire : 



Rainfall. Prominent Breeds of Rams 

 Sheep District Inches per in 



Year. Order of Importance. 



Auckland (N.I.) 62 Romney, Lincoln, Downs. 



Hawkes Bay (N.I.) .. .. 50 Roinney, Lincoln, Leicester. 



Wellington (N.I.) .. .. 44 Romney, Lincoln, Downs. 



Marlborough, &c. (S.I.) . 42 Romney, Merino, Leicester. 



Canterbury (S.I.) .. .. Leicester, Downs, Merino. 



Otago, &c. (S.I.) .. ... 33 Romney, Leicester, Merino. 



If this table is noteworthy for nothing else than the 

 attention it directs to the small rainfall of Canterbury, 

 and the striking absence of the Romney among the lead- 

 ing breeds there, it is interesting. The fairly dry agri- 

 cultural areas of this province or sheep district claims 

 the Leicesters and the Downs, as placed to crossbred 

 ewes, as the most profitable kinds of sheep; the early 

 fat lamb being the primary objective. The Merino 

 provides good wool returns in its natural quarters the 

 mountainous back blocks and indirectly contributes a 

 large quota, of mutton in furnishing half-bred ewes as 

 the foundation of the crossbred flocks of Canterbury. 



The preceeding table shows that out of the six sheep 

 districts the Romney is the most popular breed in no less 

 than five of them. The three districts of the North 

 Island Auckland, Hawkes Bay, and Wellington with 

 their good rainfall, unmistakably claim preference for 

 the Roinney and Lincoln breeds. 



